After I finish washing up my cereal bowl I look up, staring out of the dirty window and down at the street below, taking in the sight of the couple arguing, clearly both drunk and jobless. They continue to stumble over the street, screaming and waving their beer cans around. I turn away, looking back at the untidy, tiny kitchen that we possess.

At least we have a home.

With a sigh I reach out and grab the pile of letters that have built up, quickly shifting through them to check for any of importance. Edgewater Valley Power is printed across one envelope and I hastily rip it open, biting my lip as I anticipate what it says. 'Overdue' is slapped across the top of the letter and my eyes drift down to the wording below. Quickly scanning the contents of the letter I curse under my breath before walking into the living room where Elle sits, pulling her boots on.

"Elle?"

"Yeah?" She asks, looking up at me.

"The electric?"

"What?" She furrows her eyebrows, walking past me to throw the apple core in the trash.

"I thought we'd paid this month?" I ask warily, holding the letter out. Her eyes grow wide as she turns towards me.

"Shit, Ann I was going to I swear." She runs her hands through her hair, eyes full of panic. "Shit, I forgot." She grimaces, "I'm so sorry, I just wanted to treat myself for once."

"Treat yourself?"

"I got a couple of new tops. Mine were ripping at the seams. I didn't even think about the bills." She groans, covering her eyes with her hands. "Shit I..."

"It's fine Elle." I reply, shrugging, "I have enough to cover us."

"You shouldn't..."

"I'm here to pay my way as well." I smile at her as she shakes her head.

"I'm supposed to be looking after you."

"You do enough for me Elle." I grab hold of her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "I don't mind helping pay for the bills."

"I thought we'd be okay by now," Elle says, sinking down onto the couch. "It was hard to start with but I thought we'd have enough money by now to be secure and happy."

"I'm happy Elle."

"What kind of life is this?" She exclaims, gesturing to our untidy living space.

"It's my life. And I don't mind it." I say quietly, sitting down next to her, "We make it work."

"Work? I literally spent our bill money on clothes!" She snaps, covering her face with her hands once more.

"You deserve to treat yourself Elle." I reply softly, "You work all hours of the day."

"I'll pay you back."

"No you won't." I reply stubbornly, "Get to work, you're going to be late." I shoot her a quick smile before I go back to my room, shutting the door behind me and shutting my eyes in despair as I lean back on the door.

I'll pick up extra shifts at the diner next week.

*~*~*

The following Saturday I have the day off and somehow find myself going for a run through the woodlands on the edge of town for some much needed alone time.

Our small apartment means that there is no getting away from each other, Elle having been adamant all week that she will pay me back, something which has led to quite a few arguments.

I used to run every day after my parents died. It was the only time I ever felt truly alone, truly able to come to terms with what had happened. Nowadays I barely ever do it, too busy working or studying. Plus, I'd prefer to eat than be out here running.

I turn the corner along the well trodden path, stopping suddenly at the sight in front of me. Really? Why now?

Brett kneels before me, tying his shoe up, right in the middle of the path.

"What are you doing here?" I blurt out. He instantly turns, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

"Lovely to see you too Savannah." He smirks as he stands and I roll my eyes, desperately trying to ignore the fact that you can see every inch of his muscular torso under his tight sports top.

"You run?"

"I've got to keep myself in shape somehow."

"Running?"

"Well obviously that's not all I do." He reaches back to flex his muscles, grinning and I grimace, not letting him know that inside I am drooling so hard he would drown if I let it out.

"You're so cocky." I mutter and he shrugs.

"I'm not!"

"If you say so." I turn to leave but stop when he calls my name.

"Why do you always run from me?" Brett calls out and I turn back, my eyebrow raised.

"I just don't have anything to say." I mutter and he smirks.

"There's always something to say." He responds and I shake my head, "Stubborn Savannah. Has a nice ring to it."

"Get used to it." I retort and he grins.

"Come with me." He gestures, smiling at me.

"Why?" I scoff, crossing my arms under my chest.

"Just trust me." He says, holding his hand out.

"That's what all the murderers say."

"I'm not going to murder you. Stubborn Savannah isn't worth going to jail for." Brett smirks.

"You might just bury my body. Hide the evidence." I shrug, making a move to turn away.

"I might." He crosses his arms. "Or I might not." I tilt my head to glare at him. "Come on." He holds out his hand once more and I shake my head.

"No."

"Why do you always do this?" He sighs before walking over towards me. My eyes widen as he approaches, picking me up before I can realize what is happening and throwing me over his shoulder.

"What are you doing?" I screech, "You can't keep doing this!" I snap, grabbing onto the sides of his body to steady myself and feeling myself melt under the warmth of his body. Focus Savannah!

"You never listen!" He laughs.

"This is kidnapping."

"Whatever you say Savvie!" He taunts as he leaves the path, treading through the thick undergrowth.

"Don't call me that!"

"Okay Savvie!"

"I hate you."

"No you don't!" I can almost feel his smirk from here. I descend into silence as I continue to watch the ground go by, all attempts at looking up to see how far we've come, failing miserably. After a few minutes he stops and I wriggle in his grip, trying to see where we are.

"We're here!" Brett announces before gently placing me down on the floor, instantly receiving the glare that I shoot him before I turn away from him. My mouth drops open at the sight.

A quiet, but large waterfall dominates the view, falling into a small pool at the bottom. The trees continue right up to the water line, flowers covering the floor of the woodland. I take a few steps forward, my eyes fixed on the constant flow of water, the beautiful tranquility mesmerizing. I had no idea this sort of beauty existed in Edgewater Valley.

Breathtaking.

"Why did you bring me here?" I ask without looking behind me. I feel him walk over, stopping beside me.

"I don't know." He shrugs. "I guess it's nice to spend time with someone who doesn't worship me."

"It's not just me." I scoff, briefly glancing over at him. His ocean blue eyes glint in the reflections from the water, sparkling in the light of the sun as he smiles. My lips part involuntarily at the sight.

"Are you sure about that?" He replies, looking over at me. I nod although I'm not sure at all. Everyone loves him and everyone worships him.

Even I can't help but to desire him in some way. Not that he will ever know that. Desire is only skin deep and I can get over that.

"My parents don't." He scoffs, turning back to look at the water.

"Your parents?" I repeat and he nods. "But you have a sports car, designer clothes..."

"All to compensate for the fact they are never here." Brett interrupts.

"Where are they?"

"Who knows? Last I heard they were in Paris." He scoffs, looking over at me. "Three months ago."

"I'm... sorry." I manage, looking down at the ground and kicking a pebble in front of me. What are you supposed to say to someone whose parents don't seem to care?

"Don't be. They've been like it since I turned eight. Apparently then I was old enough to be without them." He replies, stepping forward to look out over the waterfall.

"What do they go away for?" I ask timidly.

"Business." He says. "Well that's what they say."

"Are you all alone in that huge house?"

"No." He smiles. "I have Ettie, she's the housekeeper. She looks after my sister and I."

"You have a sister?" I can't help but smile. I don't know what I would do without Elle.

"Alice. She's eight."

"They leave her behind?" My eyes widen as I ask. He looks over at me, nodding slightly.

"Yeah."

"I have a sister too." I smile. He takes a step back towards me, a grin appearing on his face.

"You do?"

"Elle. She's twenty one."

"And your parents?"

"Car crash. Three years ago." I look down as the familiar feeling of loss arises, staring at my chipped nail polish.

"Savannah I'm so sorry."

"It's okay." I wave my hand dismissing it as I look back at the waterfall. We descend into silence and I can tell that he doesn't know what to say next. No-one ever does. It's a conversation killer and it always has been. I wish I never had to say it out loud.

"When I drive like an idiot...?" His voice is low, questioning and cautious. I shrug.

"I'm used to it. Most people do these days."

"Still..." He begins, looking over at me, anguish in his eyes, "Savannah I shouldn't do it. It's dangerous and I'm heading for disaster."

"So why do you?" I challenge, leaning back against the tree beside me.

"When I'm out on the road I'm free, I'm alone and I can do what I want." He smiles slightly at the thought.

"So you like to be alone?"

"Doesn't everyone?" He smiles.

"You're the most popular guy in school."

"Even more reason to value being alone."

"I thought you liked it." I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. Brett Winters is confident. And he loves being center of attention.

"I do... I guess. But constantly being in the spotlight is shit Savannah." He responds, startling me.

"I wouldn't know."

"Maybe that's a blessing." He replies and I look at him. His face is relaxed, emotion clear in his eyes and I realize suddenly that this is the first time I've ever seen his guard down. "Always being watched, people waiting and hoping that you'll do something wrong."

"People feed on failure."

"Very true." He agrees, "And gossip."

"Come on, you've got to love a bit of gossip!" I reply, a small smirk appearing on my lips. He shoots me a doubtful look.

"Really?"

"Scandalous!" I grin, pushing away from the tree and walking closer to him, "Did you hear Kelly Simmons' Dad left last month. Moved to Mexico with his mistress."

"Mistress?" He furrows his eyes, confusion filling his face.

"Oh yeah! He'd been having an affair for eight months." I sing.

"And why do I need to know this?" He pinches the bridge of his nose and I can't help but grin. Am I torturing Brett?

"Next time you feel upset about your life, think about the bad stuff happening to other people."

"Make myself happier by thriving on other people's misery?" He raises an eyebrow, looking at me skeptically.

"Why not!" I answer as I grin, "I've had enough heartache in my life to be grateful when something happens that I'm not involved in. If people knew gossip about your life, they'd do the same." I shrug, "You have loads of parties, does no one ever question where your parents are?" I ask, "Where does your sister go?"

"She stays at her school two nights a week. Ettie sometimes takes her to visit my parents." He replies, shrugging, "Anyway, people think my parents are incredible, letting me party all the time."

"I bet half the school want your parents." I laugh at the irony of it.

"They can have them." He retorts, his face blank of expression.

"At least they are around sometimes." I point out as he stands back up. "I'd give anything to have my parents back for one day." I smile at the thought, "Even an hour."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop." I put my hand up to stop him as he stands up. "I don't need your apology. You weren't even driving then so..."

"Were they always around?" He asks, perching on the edge of a log.

"Always. Dad took us to school, Mom picked us up." I explain, a smile growing on my face, "Elle hated it because she didn't want to be seen with them." I continue, "I loved it." He smiles as I giggle, "Dad used to drive past Starbucks and stop for breakfast on the last Friday of every month. And Mom used to do popcorn after school if we wanted to watch a film."

"Sounds perfect." He looks down at me, smiling softly and I feel my heart flutter.

"It was." I reply as I force myself to tear my eyes away from his. "Do you come up here often?"

"Sometimes." He responds, looking around at the scenery. "It's off the path so no-one ever comes up here."

"What about wild animals?" I say as the thought springs to mind, looking around, my eyes wide.

"I haven't seen any out here." He replies, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Just because you haven't seen them, doesn't mean they aren't there."

"Are you serious?"

"When a deer attacks you, don't come running to me." I warn, holding my hands up.

"I'll make a note of that." He nods, amused, "You're a little weird."

"I'm not surprised you think that Mr Jock." I scoff at him.

"Hey! Hold off I'm not like you think."

"You once called me the geekiest prude you'd ever met." I can't help but scoff once more. His eyebrows rise.

"What?" He seems genuinely surprised. "When?"

"Don't remember?" I snap as I look up at his face, "I'm not surprised." His eyes cloud over with some form of undistinguishable emotion and I tear my gaze back towards the beautiful waterfall. If I concentrate hard enough I can forget that he's here. "When I had just turned fifteen. At a school dance." I admit.

"I'm a dick." His voice is so quiet I barely hear it. My face snaps back towards him. He's resting back on a log, a regretful look on his face.

"What?"

"I am." He shrugs, looking down at the ground. "I know that."

"Whatever you say." I scoff.

"You don't believe me do you?" He asks, looking straight at me. I stare back, keeping eye contact.

"Do you blame me? You're known for being a liar."

"I am not." He scoffs, tearing his eyes away.

"A player then." I shrug, "Same thing. Tell girls anything you can to get them into bed."

"What can I say!" He winks at me, taking a couple of steps towards me. I shake my head but can't help the small smirk that appears in the corner of my mouth.

"Arrogant idiot."

"Hey now!" He fakes clutching his chest and I can't help but smirk. "You don't mean that."

"I really do."

"No you don't." He whispers as he takes a step closer and I suddenly realize how close he's got, my breath catching in my throat. He looks down at me through his long eyelashes, reaching up and gently moving a stray piece of hair away from my face. I've been drawn in, my heart rate accelerating faster and faster with every breath as he smiles down at me, gently caressing his fingers across my cheek.

Savannah...

Savannah you know what he's like...

I quickly swallow the lump in my throat, taking a step back as he maintains eye contact, confusion clouding his features.

"I... I should go." I stutter.

"If you want to," he replies, his smile slipping from his face.

"I... I have things to do." I manage, looking down at the floor. "Uh, which way to get back?"

"Down the left of that tree, follow the small tracked path down, you'll come back to where we were." He gestures, flashing me a quick smile. I return it, nodding my head and backing away.

"Thanks." I answer, "Bye."

"Bye Savannah." Brett's voice is low and I feel my heart flutter as he says my name. I take another step backward as he continues to stare at me before turning and forcing myself to walk away, grabbing onto the tree as I walk past it. I don't look back at him, terrified that he is watching me.

But even more terrified of the idea he isn't watching me leave.

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I know, I know... this book is cliché! If you don't like it, don't read it! I'm afraid I love the romantic clichés.

What are all your thoughts so far?

As always if you're enjoying it, please vote, comment, let me know, etc. 💙

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